Why Is New York City Leasing Space to Israeli Military Suppliers?
New York City markets the Brooklyn Navy Yard as an economic hub for minority- and women-owned small businesses.
But the city-owned industrial park also leases space to two companies that provide drones and license camouflage technology allegedly used by the Israeli military.
Protesters have been pushing for the Navy Yard to evict the companies for over a year. New York state Sen. Jabari Brisport joined the protesters on Wednesday in calling for the companies’ eviction. “Mark my words: They will be removed,” he said outside the complex.
One company, Easy Aerial, produces small surveillance drone systems and drone controllers and is led by Ido Gur, a veteran of the Israeli air force. On a LinkedIn post last year, Easy Aerial shared a post from one of its investors, the Israeli fund Cavaret Ventures, which said that the company had played “a pivotal role” in meeting Israel’s requirements for its war on Gaza.
The other, Crye Precision, acknowledged in a lawsuit that their trademarked MultiCam camouflage patterns have been used by the Israeli military, and their website for their camouflage products lists the Israeli tactical gear company Agilite as a partner, which advertises its use by the Israeli military. Last fall, a whistleblower at Crye also told Drop Site News that the company supplied the Israeli armed forces.
Crye Precision denies that it provides apparel for the Israeli military. A company spokesperson told The Intercept that protesters’ claims about Crye Precision are false and misleading, noting also that “Crye Precision does not sell weapons or drones, nor do we have any contracts with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) or any Israeli manufacturers.” They said the mention of........
© The Intercept
